The Duke Human Vaccine Institute
Duke University Medical School has always been on the cutting edge. In 1990, the Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI) was started to begin working on a vaccine for HIV/AIDS. While these efforts continue, the DHVI has worked on the development of vaccines and therapeutics for a variety of infections that put people across the globe at risk, including influenza, Ebola, dengue, tuberculosis, zika, and others. Early vaccine trials for some of these diseases are currently being produced in Duke’s Good Manufacturing Practice facilities. DHVI uses Compound Scout in its work to speed adjuvant discovery and support development of new vaccines.
Coming Together for a Vaccine.
While Duke is not currently conducting COVID-19 vaccine testing at its facilities, Duke investigative experts have been called on to contribute to finding a coronavirus vaccine. Scientists from the DHVI are currently working with the California National Primate Research Center to understand why there is such a large reaction gap to the virus between children and those over 65. Identifying patterns in individual responses to the virus may help in developing a vaccine to prevent COVID-19.
Pandemic Preparedness.
While many in the Raleigh-Durham area are not aware of it, DHVI is the home of a Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL), funded by the NIAID/NIH after the 2001 anthrax attacks. Within this facility, DHVI houses two pandemic preparedness programs, including infectious disease response training (DIDRT) and a Pandemic Prevention Platform (P3) funded by the Department of Defense.
The Compound Scout team is happy to provide support for the important work being done by DHVI.